Some travelers have stated that this 3.5 hour ferry ride from Wellington to Picton is the highlight of their New Zealand trip.

We arrive at 7am just as the city begins to wake up. Here’s a view from the ferry deck… see that beehive building in the distance? It was voted one of the world’s ugliest buildings, our driver tells us.

Our ferry takes off and it’s soon apparent why so many laud this voyage. I’ll let the photos do the talking:

And here’s Picton, our arrival city, in the distance:

Stunning. Not a bad way to spend 3.5 hours! The ride costs around $55 each way for walk-ons and more if you’ve got a vehicle. Airfare between Wellington and Christchurch (further down the east coast of the South Island) is around $85 one-way, but you won’t get the scenic views.